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Candidates for Georgia Governor and Senate faced off in debates this week ahead of the November election. On Tuesday, Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson met for what will likely be their only debate before Election Day on Nov. 3. The hourlong matchup between the gubernatorial candidates featured questions from voters on a wide range of issues, including Flock cameras, healthcare, public safety, and elections. Things got heated on Thursday in the first Ga. Senate debate between incumbent Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff and his challenger, Republican Rep. Mike Collins. Both came out swinging as they answered Atlanta News First/Gray Media reporters' questions about the economy, tariffs, data centers, immigration and more. On this episode of "Plugged Into Politics," host Rahul Bali is joined by WABE colleagues DorMiya Vance and Emily Wu Pearson to discuss the big takeaways from the week's debates. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, we shift from the Georgia Governor's race, to the highly-anticipated face-off between the candidates for U.S. Senate. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff and his Republican challenger Congressman Mike Collins will mull-over the issues Georgians are facing and will likely throw a few jabs. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson join host Lisa Rayam to give a preview. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, our strategists give their unique insight into the first highly-anticipated, town hall-style debate between the final two candidates for Georgia governor: Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms and Republican Rick Jackson.  We're broadcasting this week's PB just hours ahead of the debate -- one that could be the key to persuading undecided voters.  Republican strategist Brian Robinson advises the Rick Jackson campaign. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson advises former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Candidates for Governor talk about their plans after incumbent Brian Kemp suspends the gas tax. The GOP faces questions about their candidate for U.S. Senate as Democratic incumbent Jon Ossoff goes on the attack. Plus, one of the most important organizations in the state is getting a new leader and why it matters in Georgia politics. Hear these stories and more on this week's episode of "Plugged Into Politics." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Political Breakfast, we fast-forward past the November midterm elections and land in 2028. Democratic U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock: their names have been tossed around for a possible run for President. Warnock was pressed about it at a recent event. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson interpret his vague answer with host Lisa Rayam. Plus, the latest with GOP Congressman Mike Collins' campaign for Ossoff's U.S. Senate seat. Can Collins maintain Trump's support while also appealing to Georgia voters who do not identify strongly with Trump? And against the advice of fellow Republicans in Georgia, Trump continues to focus on widespread claims of election fraud. Now Trump and his allies are sparking fears about non-citizen voters influencing the November midterm elections.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Political Breakfast, we break down the latest in the Georgia governor's race. It looks like billionaire healthcare CEO and Republican candidate Rick Jackson declined a face-off with former Atlanta Mayor and Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms. That's as a new poll in the Governor's race gives Jackson a slight edge. Democratic strategist and attorney Anre Washington fills-in for Tharon Johnson, with Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam.  Plus, how Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is is weighing on the minds of politicians at the local and state level.  While AI is a powerful tool that's now part of our culture, images generated by AI can be used to target and slander celebrities and politicians. The latest victims? College Park Mayor Bianca Motley Broom, and U.S. Senator Raphael Warnock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, President Donald Trump is now promising to pay American adults $5K each -- IF Republicans maintain control of the House and Senate in this November's midterm elections. Experts say that's a trillion dollar promise -- when the country is already burdened by roughly $40 trillion in debt.  The move would need Congressional approval. Republican strategist Brian Robinson, Democratic strategist and attorney Anré Washington and host Lisa Rayam weigh-in on if this campaign promise is ethical and even legal?  Then we'll move to the latest in Georgia's race for U.S. Senate. At the Republican midterm convention, Congressman Mike Collins spoke about his support for the Laken Riley Act, which requires the detention of unauthorized immigrants convicted of theft and violent crimes. It was the first bill that Trump signed into law at the start of his second term. Laken Riley is the nursing student who was murdered on the UGA campus in 2024. The Venezuelan immigrant who was convicted had entered the country illegally. Collins' opponent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, also voted to support the bill.  But is this continued focus on immigration reform by Republicans an effort to distract from Collins' latest controversy -- alleged ties to white nationalists? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's live edition of Political Breakfast, the first-ever Republican midterm convention gets underway in Dallas Wednesday, and two Georgians have been tapped as speakers. GOP Congressmen Mike Collins and Brian Jack are both running for election. Will this national stage boost their numbers in Georgia? Republican strategist Brian Robinson and Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson sort through this with host Lisa Rayam.  Plus, the latest election forecast from one of the nation's top statisticians .. focusing on Georgia's Gubernatorial race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Political Breakfast: There's questions swirling, as to why Georgia's Republican Lt. Gov. Burt Jones has failed to endorse billionaire healthcare executive Rick Jackson for governor.  Jones lost the Republican primary runoff election to Jackson. The campaign attack ads were intense. The out-of-pocket spending was immense.  There may be some bad blood between the two, but with the November general election months away, is it time to clean the slate? Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson share their thoughts with host Lisa Rayam.  Plus, U.S. Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is calling for a temporary statewide ban on massive data center deals in Georgia. That's in response to a $20 billion dollar project planned for Effingham County, just north of Savannah.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Political Breakfast, we talk about a recent exchange between Georgia gubernatorial candidates Keisha Lance Bottoms and Rick Jackson. It all unfolded in a hotel parking lot, after a Jackson attack ad took aim at Bottoms' husband. Democratic strategist Tharon Johnson and Republican strategist Brian Robinson discuss with host Lisa Rayam how campaigns decide whether to rebut a claim, attack the messenger, or just change the subject.   A quick note: Brian advises Rick Jackson and Tharon advises Keisha Lance Bottoms. Plus, Atlanta did not make the final cut to host the 2028 Democratic National Convention. Mayor Andre Dickens did not react kindly to the snub.  In a letter to the DNC, Dickens wrote that its leaders "continue to make the wrong choices," that the "road to the White House runs through the South" and they are "once again abandoning Black voters." Plus, as Jackson's campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration, a lawsuit filed by foreign-born nurses against one of the companies under his healthcare empire, accuses Avant Healthcare Professionals of "luring them to the United States" only to pay them low wages and trap them in contracts for years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this edition of Political Breakfast, the team discusses how billionaire businessman and Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson signed a new contract to provide healthcare services to workers with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health. Much of Jackson's fortune comes from the company he owns: Jackson Healthcare. The trouble is, Jackson said he would shy away from conducting health business in Georgia if elected. This new contract would expire six months AFTER a new governor takes office. Republican strategist Brian Robinson, who advises the Rick Jackson campaign, Democratic strategist Anre Washington and host Lisa Rayam sort through all the implications. Plus, U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff went on the attack at a rally in Atlanta over the weekend, and continued to call out his opponent, GOP U.S. Representative Mike Collins, for his alleged ties to white supremacists. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This edition of Political Breakfast explores the powerful role money and public perception play in Georgia elections.   Brian, Tharon, and Lisa examine how candidates with larger campaign war chests often gain a significant advantage that can translate into more voter support.  We also discuss how a candidate's reputation can be affected by the company they keep!   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of Political Breakfast, Polling and Emoting explores the intersection of public opinion and campaign strategy by taking a closer look at the latest polls in Georgia and what they may reveal about the state's political landscape.  In addition, strategists Brian Robinson and Tharon Johnson, along with host Lisa Rayam, talk about the emotional dynamics of the campaign trail.  They explore whether a candidate's emotional appeal can influence public perception, shape momentum, and ultimately translate into votes on Election Day.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Political Breakfast, our Republican strategist Brian Robinson responds to some listener feedback, wondering how his current role of advising the Rick Jackson campaign for Georgia governor, really works in tandem with his job untangling Georgia politics on WABE.  Plus, our Democratic strateigst Tharon Johnson also talks about his past roles as a campaign advisor, for former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, and others.  We also break down the recent Toast on Lenox-Rick Jackson photo controversy. Brian and Tharon talk about Jackson's visit to the Atlanta Black-owned breakfast spot. It's now being subjected to calls for a boycott. And more polls, polls, polls. We breakdown how a new poll released Monday morning and analyzed by the AJC, shows Democrats hold an early advantage in the Georgia Governor's race. BUT the pollsters acknowledge that much of that edge depends on voters who are LESS likely to turn up at the polls, when the race for president is not on the ballot. The poll also acknowledges that their sample could lean a little bit bluer than the overall Georgia electorate. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's Political Breakfast, Democratic strategist Anré Washington is filling-in for Tharon Johnson, alongside Republican strategist Brian Robinson and host Lisa Rayam.  We start with FIFA fever in Atlanta! It's the last week of the 2026 World Cup. England will face Argentina at 3 pm at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Will the soccer culture and spirit stay in Atlanta when the World Cup run ends? Plus, more polls are out, a few weeks after the competitive Georgia primary elections. Even though polls don't tell the WHOLE story, our strategists believe they take a pretty good pulse of how Georgia voters are feeling.  One from Fox News shows Democrats leading by a significant amount in both the Governor's race and the race for U.S. Senate. But another poll from Wick Research shows both races are deadlocked.  Plus, the group reacts to South Carolina Republican Lindsay Graham's death over the weekend, after what his office described as a “brief and sudden illness.” Even though he never represented the Peach State, he became intertwined with Georgia politics over the years.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.